Merantau (2009)

It is well-known that Indonesia has a strong martial arts tradition. The most famous fighting style is Pencak Silat, which is a collection of various techniques. With Merantau director Gareth Evans shows that Pencak Silat is a good choice to use for this martial arts film. Merantau is the result. When a boy has to become a man there is a tradition in Indonesia that he leaves his parents to search for life experience and become succesful before he returns home again. This is called Merantau. Can this movie compete with other martial arts movies made in China and Thailand? Continue reading

Chocolate (2008)

At the moment Tony Jaa (Ong Bak) is Thailand’s most famous martial arts star. With his incredible stunts that sometimes seem to defy gravity and other laws of nature he has deserved his fame. Jija Yanin Vismitananda, who plays Zen in this movie, is being marketed as the next big star coming out of Thailand. Does Chocolate show that she has what it takes or is it just a case of clever marketing using the road already created by Jaa? Continue reading